Dear Andy, This is a Beautiful Cockroach nymph, Ellipsidion australe, and though it is not a predatory species, it is also not a species that will infest homes. According to the Brisbane Insect site: “Not all cockroaches are ugly. This Austral Ellipsidion Cockroach looks beautiful. Its body is orange-brown to dark brown with white patterns. Its thorax is dark brown with a good looking yellow around the edge. The cockroach adult is winged, with brown forewings covered the black and white abdomen. Male and female look almost the same. Nymphs have the similar body structure except wingless. …They are very good runners. This Cockroach is active at day time, running openly on the leaves and flowers. Most other cockroaches are scavengers, they feed on almost everything. We are not exactly sure what this Austral Ellipsidion Cockroach feeds on, but they are always found on plants, seldom on the ground. They are believed feeding on pollen, honeydew and mould fungus.“

Subject: Reminds me of a trilobite Geographic location of the bug: Colorado Date: 09/08/2018 Time: 10:56 AM EDT Your letter to the bugman: I found this bug crawling in a basement in northern Colorado, it’s about as big as the tip of my thumb and reminded me of the ancient trilobite! Any idea as to what it really is? How you want your letter signed: Thank you

Sand Cockroach

This is a Sand Cockroach in the genus Arenivaga, a group that does not infest homes. Here is a BugGuide image for comparison.

Subject: Changes around the house Geographic location of the bug: Northern New Jersey Date: 08/26/2018 Time: 06:41 AM EDT Your letter to the bugman: Recently, we’ve been having a lot of construction done at our house and the house has been completely open to the outside. Over the past couple of days, we’ve seen some of these sharing our home with us. We haven’t seen them before. We live in a forested, semi-rural area. It would be great to understand what these are so we can understand their habits. Thank you. How you want your letter signed: Jim Jacobson

German Cockroach Nymph

Dear Jim, As you can see from this BugGuide image, you have a German Cockroach nymph, Blattella germanica. This is one of the species of Cockroaches that will infest homes and businesses. It is possible that they were already in your home and the construction has caused them to flee into the open, as they are generally nocturnal feeders that shun light. It is also possible that they were somehow transported to your home with construction materials or personal belongings of the construction workers, but if you are finding them in large numbers, they are likely reproducing in your home.

Dear Daniel, Thank you very much for this information. I truly appreciate it. I would guess that somehow they were transported into the house. We’ve lived here 6 years and this is the first time we’ve seen any. We have only seen two. Thanks again, Jim Jacobson

Subject: Green Cockroach Geographic location of the bug: Tarpon Springs Florida Date: 08/19/2018 Time: 05:46 PM EDT Your letter to the bugman: Saw two of these guys hanging around my compost pile. About an inch long and they fly. Didn’t gross me out like the brown ones present at the time. Is this the Panchlora Nivea? Sorry for the not great photo but he was moving pretty fast. Thanks. How you want your letter signed: philm

Green Banana Cockroach

Dear philm, We concur that this is a Green Banana Cockroach, Panchlora nivea, a species pictured on BugGuide where it states: “nocturnal, comes to lights; does not breed indoors; popular as a pet”.

Subject: Bug Geographic location of the bug: Lake county il Date: 08/14/2018 Time: 12:12 AM EDT Your letter to the bugman: Can you identify this bug? How you want your letter signed: Jessica

Female German Cockroach with Ootheca

Dear Jessica, This is a female German Cockroach and she is dragging around her ootheca or egg case. According to BugGuide: “Nocturnal; major pest of residential and commercial structures. Some people can develop severe allergies to cockroach parts, feces, and oils. Females carry the ootheca for up to a month, dropping it just before the eggs hatch.”

Subject: What is this Geographic location of the bug: Cape town south africa Date: 07/31/2018 Time: 11:34 AM EDT Your letter to the bugman: Found this on my patio area How you want your letter signed: Any

Red Headed Cockroaches

Dear Any, These are Red Headed Cockroaches, Deropeltis erythrocephala, and we verified their identity on iNaturalist and iSpot. This is an outdoor species that will not infest your home and you have no need to be concerned regarding this sighting on your patio.